Phantom 3 SE: Is This the Best Entry Level Drone Now?

DJI recently announced the newest drone to the Phantom lineup, and it isn’t a new Phantom 5. It is the Phantom 3 SE. DJI now sells two different versions of the Phantom 3. The older Standard and now the SE. The Phantom 3 SE is an upgrade to the Phantom 3 Standard in many ways. You can purchase a Phantom 3 SE from DJI for $599.

Phantom 3 SE vs. Phantom 3 Professional

How does it compare to the older Phantom 3 Advanced or Professional? DJI may have discontinued these two models, but you can still find them pretty easily. The Phantom 3 SE is very similar in many ways, in particular to the Phantom 3 Professional. They both have 4K capable cameras. The Professional has a 5000 meter range, where the SE is “limited” to 4000 meters. The SE tops the Professional in flight time with 25 minutes to the 23 minutes of the Professional. We would recommend the newer SE over the Professional. The longer flight time and cheaper price tag put the SE ahead of the Pro.

If you are thinking of getting a Phantom then you may be considering making some money with your new drone. If you are going to do that you will need some training and a Part 107 license.

Phantom 3 SE vs Phantom 3 Standard

The real decision comes down to whether or you should purchase a Phantom 3 Standard or spend the extra $100 to buy the SE. We will break down the differences between the two models.

Improved Range

The Phantom 3 SE improves the range to almost 2.5 miles (4 km) vs. the 0.5-mile range on the Standard. Like the Phantom 3 Standard, the SE still utilizes WiFi technology rather than DJI’s advanced Lightbridge connection. However we suspect that DJI has updated this technology significantly in order to achieve such fantastic results.

Improved Camera

The Phantom 3 SE camera is also superior to that on the Phantom 3 Standard. It has the capability of shooting video in 4K at 30 fps. The Standard is limited to 2.7K video. Both machines can capture still photography at 12 MP.

Improved Stability

The Phantom 3 SE adds a Vision Positioning System. This will help the SE be more stable both indoors and out. The Phantom 3 Standard does not have a Vision Positioning System but does utilize GPS to help keep it stable. The Phantom 3 SE does also utilize the same GPS system as well.

You can see the Vision Positioning System on the bottom of the Phantom 3 SE

Flight Time

The flight time for both quadcopters remains 25 minutes. We would recommend picking up a second battery.

Should You Get a Phantom 3 SE?

The Phantom 3 SE is definitely an upgrade over the Phantom 3 Standard, but the question is it worth an additional $100? The short answer is yes. The better camera, better stability, and better range are are worthy additions to the quadcopter. DJI’s recent release of the Phantom 3 SE makes you wonder if the next DJI Mavic won’t be the Mavic 2, but rather the Mavic SE.

The Phantom 3 Standard is still an impressive machine. The camera quality is still excellent. The Standard is still a very stable machine and the range isn’t a big deal if you only fly within line-of-sight. If you are looking to save money then the Standard is still an excellent choice. We would even recommend a refurbished Phantom 3 Standard. This often will lower the price another $100.